How long for battery to drain?

[FAB Cruiser]

Hi guys,

I was traveling in Oz and arrived back just in time for this crazy lockdown, so I haven't used my Mustang for two months. It's stored securely in a garage a long way from home. By now, I'm guessing the alarm will have completely drained the battery. It was fully charged after a long run when I parked it and the battery is two years old. Anyone have experience on how quickly they drain?

Anyway, I'll go prepared to jump-start it but is there anything else I should check apart from the obvious tyre pressures oil etc.?

Cheers
David

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[hinch]

mine spent 3 months with ford when i got it back there was just enough charge to get it started and ran to charge it up a little but it never fully recharged so always shuts down all the accessories aircon/stereo etc then with the lock down now it lasts about 6 days before its now dead and i still haven't been bothered to break out the special key to open the car and get it out and put it on charge. if this goes on much longer i guess i'll need to order a new battery.

 

[FAB Cruiser]

mine spent 3 months with ford when i got it back there was just enough charge to get it started and ran to charge it up a little but it never fully recharged so always shuts down all the accessories aircon/stereo etc then with the lock down now it lasts about 6 days before its now dead and i still haven't been bothered to break out the special key to open the car and get it out and put it on charge. if this goes on much longer i guess i'll need to order a new battery.

Thanks. On that basis, it sounds like it'll will be borderline. I may just turn up with a brand new battery if it's likely to never fully recover.

 

[hinch]

yeah i get the feeling the extended period with ford and it not being ran for months may have done the bulk of the damage to my battery that it never picks the charge up again properly so if it was good before it may be ok after but never be great again at least. worst case battery is dead and will need a full replacement. I'm going to try and take mine out i guess this weekend put it on a stand alone charger but i suspect it may be totally done for.

 

[FAB Cruiser]

So if I go to collect my car armed with a replacement, any reason why I shouldn't go for a Yuasa HSB013 12V 62Ah 620A for £112 in Halfords with 5yr warranty? The car is over 100 miles away, so I need minimal faffing about.

 

[hinch]

as long as it meets the CCA requirements to start the engine you'll be fine

 

[maddog1982]

Forgive me but what's the special key to open the door? I cant remember seeing one when I bought mine 12 months a go!

 

[inky5.0]

Forgive me but what's the special key to open the door? I cant remember seeing one when I bought mine 12 months a go!

There’s a small blade key inside the remote fob. Prise it open (carefully) and you can use it to open the driver’s door. You will need to remove the key hole cover at the back end of the door handle. It should all be in the handbook.

Hope that helps?

 

[inky5.0]

Forgive me but what's the special key to open the door? I cant remember seeing one when I bought mine 12 months a go!

Good YT video - LHD but the same principal.

 

[hinch]

ok word of warning for those of you with the metal chrome trim especially.

if you're taking the battery totally out to put on charge don't forget that you have to do it with the car unlocked else the alarm goes off nonestop, this means all the doors are unlocked.
You can lock the drivers door externally with the special key the passengers you can't lock in any way as it requires power.

also note don't open the god damn doors either unless its to pop the bonnet and reconnect the battery (don't close the door until the battery is back on). the windows no longer go down that 5mm is so when you close it the window is fully up and ...... smashes its self on the chrome trim.

I some how think ford didn't think this design through properly, not being able to lock both doors from externally and putting a hard metal trim piece that smashes the windows on door closing.

 

[Gregs24]

So if I go to collect my car armed with a replacement, any reason why I shouldn't go for a Yuasa HSB013 12V 62Ah 620A for £112 in Halfords with 5yr warranty? The car is over 100 miles away, so I need minimal faffing about.

You could just jump start it from a donor car if that is how you are getting there. 100 mile drive back will charge it up fine assuming it is undamaged - how old is the battery ? Damage occurs if lead acid batteries are left flat for too long.

 

[maddog1982]

There’s a small blade key inside the remote fob. Prise it open (carefully) and you can use it to open the driver’s door. You will need to remove the key hole cover at the back end of the door handle. It should all be in the handbook.

Hope that helps?

Cheers! Thanks for that, can you tell who doesn't read instruction manuals!

 

[FAB Cruiser]

Hi guys,

So I needn't have worried.

After 9 weeks, the door opened as usual with the fob and the interior lights and screen came on as bright as usual. Then it fired up perfectly!

I let it run for 10 minutes but when I unlocked the car a second time, the screen said 'System off to save battery" or something like that. I presume it meant Sync3 wasn't running. Anyway hit Start and all was well.

I'll see how it goes over the next few days (not there's much opportunity to drive) and will then consider returning the new battery to Halfords

Thanks for the tips. This could be relevant with cars just sitting on driveways.

I hope we get a 25% insurance rebate like Admiral have just confirmed!!

Cheers
David

 

[Garvin]

25%? Wish it was. ‘Tis £25.

 

[marzman]

Came to start mine today and it was dead. 2018 car with 14k on the clock. It unlocked okay but refused to start, so i've got it on charge now. To be fair i've only driven it twice in the last 7 weeks. One decent run out about a month ago, and once about half a mile to the shop and back 10 days ago.

Before lockdown, i'd sit in the car maybe 2 days a week on my lunch for 45 mins, sometimes with the radio on, but most of the time not, and for the last year i've gotten that 'System off to save battery' message at random times - so suspect my behaviour has caused that?

I'll see if the recharge gets it going again and allows it to keep a charge.

Is a battery covered under warranty? Im guessing not...

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